Apparatus for raising submarines and submersibles.



L. A. J, LEDUG.

APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUBMAEINBS AND SUBMERSIBLES. APPLICATION TILED MAILZG, 1912. ii, 3; M 1559 Patented 00c. 20, 1914,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

M w c/iui L. A. J. LEDUG,

APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUBMARINES AND SUBMERSIBLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26, 1912.

1,114,155. Patanted Oct-20,1914.

2 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

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3 W Mwm $UCIEN AUGUSTE JOSUE LEDUC, 01" TOURS, ERfifi-TQE.

APEMLAEJUS 3&3, RAISING SUBMAEINES ANI $U'BZ ZERSIELES.

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.spplication sled lie-rah 245, 1312. Serial 13o. eases? TQaZZ whom m a canoe m:

Be it known that l, more la'oous'rs Jesus Leone, 2. cilia-en of the Republic of France, and a resident of the city of Tours, Inrlre-et-lloire, France, have invented new and useful I .prorei'nents in Apparaiaus for Raising Submarines anti Submersihles, which improremenis are iullysei: forth in am following specification.

i This invenlion has for its object to provide apparatus applicable to submarines and. submersihles which in case ofia disaster, shall give an indication as to the position of the sunken vessel, and shall also render it possible to rsfloa'i: the said vessel wifihin a minimum period of time by facilitating the passing of cables uneler the hull of the vessel, Without necessitating the cooperation of (livers, who, however. are useless ertain depths.

The improvecl apparatus consists substantially of a plurality of buoys or floats connecterl two by two by a chain or cable or other similar linking device of suitable length which is guided or held in or below the submarine. the buoys heingkept in engagement on the vessel and being capable of being released as will by the disengaging operation in such a manner as to rise so the surface of *he Water.

The buoys on reaching the surface of the Water, inrli are the position of the sunken vessel, and their connecting means which forms a loop underneath the vessel. can then he ufiili'lterl for fastening and passing chains or cables underneath the vessel for raising the latter.

Two embodiments of this invention are illustrated by Way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a diagrammatic vertical cross section of a sulnnarine. Fig. 2 is an elevation of a detail drawn to a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a View drawn to a similar scale of the submarine when sunk. illustrating the manner in which its position is indicated by the operation of this invention, Fig. is an enlargecl sectional elevation of a modification,

is the progl ss of the vessel through the Wafierv:i*ah tomes of any desired number and section, spaced as suit-able intervals along she length of the vessel and coniormmg as closely as p ssible so bhe contour of she hull.

A vacuum is formed end msinteineei in all of the tubes 1, 337 s pump 12, c Fig. 5; connects? with the pipe 13, ohm: communieaes with the interior of the tubes 1 through the openings 3, Suitable cook: 14

atiachecl firmly collie point. of thecone 5 of each buoy and it is coiled soil-ally around the buoy to she top thereof.

The cocks 14 inpraot-ice are to be located inside the submarine at such places that they can be readily operated in case of accident. When the cooks is are opened so as to adnit either air under pressure or the surrounding Water the floats will immediately rise to the surface or" the Water and thus unwind the cord but when the cocks are closed. the floats will remain in position, even. shol h the vessel be submerged.

g, 3 shows clearly the manner in which sunken vessel can. be raised.'. ()ne of the buoys. for instance the port buoy is unfasrened anrl in it place there is zlttachecl one end of a long chain or eahle which is then drawn through the tube 1 by heulilng on theslarhoarrl buoy. in this manner the cord whio 1 ronnects the two buoys together by passing through she tube 1, can be re laced or a very strong chain or cable. capa 1e of rouforming'to the curvature of the tube. Xaturall such sirong chains or cables can-o not he attarherldireclly to the cord fastened to the buoys, but to this eord there is atinched a stronger cord and so on, until to theiastword a cable. and to this cable a sum eientl v strong chain attached which can he quickly (lone by trained men having the neressary materials at hand.

The buoys can holrl a great length of cord if it is Wound in superoosecl layers. I

A speeial adhesive which is dissolved very the the said cones with grooves like tiose of awinch barrel.

Whatever may be the number of tubes 1 in a submarine numerous cooks are provided at all stations in the vessel Within easy reach of the crew. The opening of any single one of these cocks is suliicient to allow air or water to enter the tubes and. cause all the buoys to rise to the surface of the water.

It is obvious that mechanical devices adapted to be released by suitable mechanism might be employed instead of a vacuum for the purpose of holding the buoys in posi-' tion.

In the inbdification shown in Fig. 4, thebuoys 2 are provided each with an eye 6 throu h which extends a rod 7 which is continue through a stuffing box 8 in the side of the tube 1 in the form of a piston rod of a piston 9 working in a cylinder 10. 11 is a pipe for supplying compressed air to the cylinder IQQ The instroke of the piston 9 is long enough to withdraw the rod 7 com- 'pletely from the tube 1 when the apparatus is released, so that the said rod may not hinder the passage of the lifting chains or cables through the tube It is to be understood that the tubes 1 may be dispensed with, an'd'that the buoys or open ends of said tubular guideway, a fiexi; ble' iensile/ member passing through said tubular guideway, fastened at its respective ends to said buoys, and having a sufiicient length of its portion adjacent to each of said buoys coiled on the said buoy, means for producmg a vacuum in said tubular guidevvay,-

and means for enabling the crew to destroy said vacuum therein, whereby in case of the vessel sinking, the crew by destroying the vacuum in said tubular guidewa Will enable the buoys to rise to the sur ace of the A water by their natural buoyancy, as set forth. I

In testimony whereof Ihave signed. this specification in the presence ofitwosubscribing Witnesses.

LUGIEN 'AUGUSTE JOSUE Lanna.-

. Witnesses EMILE LEDRET, v LUoreN MEMMINGEB. 

